A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday framed charges against six personnel from the Byculla women’s prison for their alleged role in the custodial killing of inmate Manjula Shetye in June 2017, PTI reported. Prison guards Pokharkar, Wasima Sheikh, Sheetal Shegokar, Bindu Naikode, Surekha Gulwe and Aarti Shingne were arrested in July 2017.
The six have been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and criminal intimidation. Additional Sessions Judge Shayna Patil will begin the trial on July 3, PTI reported.
The incident took place on June 23, 2017, when 38-year-old Shetye argued with the guards about two eggs and five slices of bread that were missing from the morning ration. Shetye, who was supposed to perform the duties of a warden in the jail, had also got into arguments with other inmates who accused her of “being bossy”.
On the day of the incident, an inmate had complained about her to Pokharkar. An angry Pokharkar then asked her constables to bring Shetye to her cabin, where they allegedly sexually assaulted her and beat her to death. Her death had triggered a protest by other inmates.
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